Pitcher&#39;s control practice target



Feb. 10, 1953 c. J. LECZNAR PITCHERS CONTROL PRACTICE TARGET Filed Dec. 25, 1949 IN VEN TOR. CHESTER J' Lee ZNA R flf 4 M ATTORAISEY.

Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,628,097 PITCHERS' CONTROL PRACTICE TARGET Chester J. Lecznar, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 23, 1949, Serial No. 134,698

2 Claims. (Cl. 273 26) I This invention relates to a pitcher control practice target and more particularly to a novel target construction which includes an upright. frame within which is mounted and suspended a reversible target.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple target construction which provides for the mounting and suspending in an upright position of a rectangular target, with the lower portions of said target having a yielding relationship relative to the target frame to thereby dampen the vibration thereof due to impact by a thrown baseball.

It is the further object of this invention to provide a suitable frame which may be assembled in sections, and including a canvas upon which may be painted or stencilled the designation of any desired image such as a bulls eye or the conventional showing of a batter and catcher.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of the target embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a left side elevational view of the target shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on line 66 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section on line 11 of Fig. 2.

It will be understood that the above drawing illustrates merely a preferred embodiment of the invention and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set out.

Referring to the drawing the target frame is generally of inverted U shape, and may be of a unitary formation. In the present embodiment shown however the U shape frame includes the parallel spaced legs H and i2 and the intermediate interconnecting top tubular element l3 including downwardly projected formed ends is which extend over and are suitably secured to the upper ends of the tubular legs II and i2 respectively.

Target supporting shaft i5 projects through corresponding transverse openings adjacent the upper ends of legs 1 I and I2, and is secured upon the frame as by the nut I6 mounted upon the threaded end of said shaft.

As. shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a, rectangular fabric having a relative degree of stiffness, such. as heavy canvas, is positioned within the frame H, [2, l3, the upper end of the canvas I! being turned over and secured to the body of the canvas I! as by the transverse seam I8 to thereby define the transverse slotted portion is at the upper end of said canvas which receives the supporting rod l5 by which said canvas is supported and suspended within the frame.

Similarly the lower end of the canvas I1 is folded over and joined to the main body of the canvas ll as by the seam I9 to thereby define the transverse slotted portion i9 at the lower end of canvas 11 which is adapted to receive transverse vertically movable cross-bar 26.

Said bar as shown in Figs. land 5 projects through slotted portion l9 and extends from its opposite ends outwardly and into the interior of the tubular legs II and I2 adjacent their lower ends, and through the upright slots 2! which are formed in the corresponding portions of said legs. Thus the ends of the cross-rod 20 are adapted for vertical movement within the respective slots 2! in the lower ends of the tubular legs H and I2 of the canvas supporting frame.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 a pair of angularly inclined stays or auxiliary supports 22 are provided upon opposite sides of the canvas supporting frame, being pivotally joined at their upper ends to said frame at points 23, the lower pointed ends 24 being adapted to engage the surface upon which the frame is mounted to maintain the same in an upright position thereon.

As shown in Figs. 4-. and 5 there are arranged within the lower ends of legs I l and 12 the horizontal discs 25, or spring stops, which are positioned within said legs just above the upper ends of the upright slots 2!. Coiled springs 26 are positioned within the lower ends of said legs adjacent the slots 2| and interposed between the spring stops 25 and the outer ends of the crossrod 20, there being upwardly projecting stud shaft 2'! adjacent the ends of rod 28 which extend up into the interior of said coil springs tending to anchor the same relatively to said rod.

As shown in Fig. 1 there is a target face I! which includes the designation of a left handed batter and a catcher, whereas the reverse side shows the target 23 wherein the batter is designated as right handed. Any suitable colors may be employed for the outline or showing of the particular targets illustrated, and likewise if desired the strike and ball areas upon the target may be shown with different colors.

In operation upon the receipt of an impact to the target as by a pitched ball, in view of the stationary top support for the target, that is the rod l 5, it is apparent that said impact will cause an upward thrust of the lower end of said target relative to the frame I l-l2. This upward thrust is transmitted to the lower cross-rod 20, and the latter will move upwardly compressing the springs 26, and in this manner the shock is dissipated without injury to the canvas.

Having described my invention reference should now be had to the claims which follow for determining the scope thereof.

I claim:

1. In a pitchers target, an inverted U shaped tubular frame, a cross-bar adjacent its upper end and interconnecting the spaced legs thereof, a fabric target having transverse slotted portions at its upper and lower ends, said target being positioned within said frame with said bar supportably extending through its upper slotted portion, the lower opposed inner surfaces of said legs being longitudinally slotted, a second crossbar adjacent the lower end of said frame supportably extending through the lower slotted portion of said target, with the ends of said crossbar slidably positioned within the slots in said legs, and coiled springs within the lower ends of said legs adjacent the slots therein retainingly bearing down upon the respective ends of said lower rod.

2. In a pitchers target, an inverted U shaped tubular frame, a cross-bar adjacent its upper end and interconnecting the spaced legs thereof, a fabric target having transverse slotted portions at its upper and lower ends, said target being positioned within said frame with said bar supportably extending through its upper slotted portion, the lower opposed inner surfaces of said legs being longitudinally slotted, a second crossbar adjacent the lower end of said frame supportably extending through the lower slotted portion of said target, with the ends of said cross-bar slidably positioned within the slots in said legs, coiled springs within the lower ends of said legs adjacent the slots therein retainingly bearing down upon the respective ends of said lower rod, and stops secured within said legs adjacent the upper ends of said slots for retainingly engaging the upper ends of said springs.

CHESTER J. LECZNAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,011,014 Rosengarten ring. 13, 1935 2,254,986 Ziel Sept. 2, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 389,131 Great Britain Mar. 10, 1&33 397,260 Great Britain Aug. 24, 1933 

